378. The Candidates

Although the shinobi present didn’t fully understand Danzo’s concept of a "law-based village," after some thought, they managed to grasp the purpose behind his proposal.

In simple terms, it boiled down to two words—centralization!

Danzo not only aimed to consolidate the Daimyo’s power into the hands of the village’s higher-ups but also sought to weaken the independence of all clans within the village by implementing laws.

He wanted to bring the so-called "vacuum zones" of clan territories under the direct management of the village.

This move undoubtedly touched on the fundamental interests of the clans.

After all, Konoha had initially been formed by the gathering of various clans, large and small.

Even during the time of the First Hokage, these clans were granted significant autonomy.

As long as they didn’t cross the village’s bottom line, the higher-ups rarely interfered in the internal affairs of the major clans.

This was also a key reason why the Caged Bird Seal had persisted for so long...

Now, Danzo was suddenly proposing the creation of a legal code to govern the entire village, including the territories of the major clans.


This immediately made the clan representatives frown.

None of them could predict what the village would become once they agreed to Danzo’s plan.

Just as the situation reached a stalemate, Shikaku Nara, the head of the Nara clan, stepped forward.

"On behalf of the Nara clan, I fully support Lord Danzo’s decision and firmly uphold the laws that Konoha will establish!"

As one of the smartest minds in Konoha, and indeed the entire shinobi world, Shikaku understood Danzo’s determination to push the village toward a law-based system.

With his current authority, Danzo would never allow the clans to remain outside the village’s governance structure.

In Danzo’s vision for the future, both civilians and clans should be treated equally, and what would maintain this equality was the law he spoke of.

This was something Shikaku, as a key member of the higher-ups’ decision-making circle, had already tacitly agreed upon with Danzo, Minato, and others.

Even Fugaku Uchiha, the newly appointed elder and head of Konoha’s most prominent clan, had silently accepted this.

This wasn’t a betrayal of their class by clans like the Uchiha and Nara, but rather an acknowledgment of the inevitable trend.

This trend wasn’t just about Danzo’s immense personal power but, more importantly, the broad support he had from the masses.

This was why Shikaku chose to stand up at this critical moment and unequivocally support Danzo.

Following the Nara clan’s lead, the Uchiha clan, now fully aligned with Danzo, also stepped forward. "The Uchiha clan also supports Lord Danzo’s decision and firmly upholds the laws established by the higher-ups," said Fugaku Uchiha.

As a newly appointed elder, his words carried far more weight than before.

After their declarations, the other clans, after exchanging glances, had no choice but to voice their support as well.


With that, the proposal to establish the Ministry of Justice and the court was finally approved.

Seeing this, Minato, the Hokage, broke into a bright smile.

What he had feared most was the clans stubbornly opposing Danzo, which would have inevitably led to another bloody conflict.

Fortunately, Danzo’s influence was more than enough, and with the examples of the Uchiha and Hyuga clans, the proposal passed smoothly.

"Now, let’s discuss who would be suitable candidates for the first Minister of Justice and the Chief Justice of the court," Minato said with a smile, interlacing his fingers as he posed the question.

These two departments were powerful entities that would significantly influence Konoha’s future development.

Their first leaders would play a crucial role in shaping the village’s trajectory.

In the past, clan representatives would have been fighting tooth and nail for these positions.

But now, they remained silent, all turning their eyes to Danzo.

Seeing everyone’s gaze fixed on him, Danzo took a sip of tea before speaking slowly.

"The creation of a legal code is a complex and meticulous process that must account for every aspect of the villagers’ lives. Therefore, the first Minister of Justice must be someone with exceptional attention to detail. For this reason, I recommend Inoichi Yamanaka for this role, to oversee the drafting of the legal code."

This first recommendation came as a surprise to many.

After all, Danzo had just shown a clear intent to "centralize power," and all the clans had prepared themselves for a thorough dismantling of their influence.


No one expected him to hand such an important position to Inoichi Yamanaka, a member of the clan faction.

Seeing their surprised expressions, Danzo let out a cold laugh.

"I hope everyone understands that my goal is not to suppress the clans but to create a more equal environment that will allow the Land of Fire to progress and grow stronger! Therefore, I will not deliberately suppress talented individuals from the clans. On the contrary, as long as you have the ability, regardless of your background, you will be valued and promoted by the village!"

Danzo’s words eased the tension for many clan shinobi who had feared being sidelined.

As long as they could still advance, adhering to the village’s laws wasn’t entirely unacceptable.

"As for the first Chief Justice of the court, I also have a candidate in mind—Maruboshi Kosuke."

"Maruboshi Kosuke?"

Hearing this name, the younger shinobi in the room looked puzzled, while the older ones immediately recalled the man and nodded in agreement.

Maruboshi Kosuke.

A shinobi who had received direct water-style training from the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju...

A man who had repeatedly turned down promotions to jonin offered by the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi...

The Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, had personally bandaged his wounds...

Despite possessing jonin-level strength, he had always remained at the grassroots level of Konoha, serving the village as a genin...

His name was legendary among the older generation of shinobi.

Even the younger shinobi, upon hearing his story, couldn’t help but show respect.

After all, in Danzo’s vision, the Chief Justice of the court would be the ultimate authority in adjudicating all violations of the law based on the legal code.

This role required not only immense strength but also an unwavering sense of justice, a willingness to dedicate everything to Konoha, and the courage to stand firm.

Otherwise, what would happen if they started accepting bribes every other day?

Under these conditions, Maruboshi Kosuke, who had spent most of his life serving Konoha and was beyond reproach in both character and morals, was undoubtedly the best choice.